A phone call from a friend

Some things just seem to open our eyes when other things don't. I think it is because we try to put things and feelings into words and we just can't seem to find the right words. I think that is where a metaphor would come into play. Metaphors can certainly help us to understand things a little better. Therefore, opening our eyes. Kinda like this..."Life is like a box of chocolates". Yes most of us can remember and relate to that.

Yesterday, I was on the phone with a friend and she began telling me about her day. Kinda funny how I thought she was commentating one of my days. Yes, it sounded all too familiar. She went on to tell me about a little story that she read the other day. I just had to find it and share it with you. And here it is...

There's a Hole in my Sidewalk
by Portia Nelson

Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…
I am helpless.
It is not my fault.
It takes forever to find my way out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it there.
I still fall in…It’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down another street.

Yeah! A break!

Nope it isn't my leg or anything like that. We actually took a break today. I met some of the home school group at the springs for a day of sun and fun. I had to leave and go to a meeting and some of the moms kept an eye out for the boys. Once my meeting was over, I picked up the other boys and took them to the springs. I love it when we can take a break like that. Just leave all the studies and responsibilities behind.
I love hanging out with the other moms!

Everyday

Some days I want to sit and tell you everything. Other days...well, mind your own business.
Do you ever have days like that? Com'on now, tell it like it is. You know you do too.
Ok...Here we go.

Today I sat in a "canning class". I actually learned a few things.
One very important thing that I learned is that the way my parents and grandparents used to can would kill us these day. Ok, maybe not would, but certainly could.
I learned that the USDA doesn't have a way to can yellow squash. Homemade canning I mean. Not store bought canning.
I learned that you need soft water to pickle the best pickles. Now get this. Hard water has lime in it and you gotta get it out of the water to pickle pickles cucumbers. And...you have to buy lime to use it in the pickle recipe. Hmmm....I think I'll be thinking on this one for a little while.
Speaking of canning.
I'm growing a garden again this year. I grow a small garden just about every year. Now that the boys are older and I seem to have a few more minutes during the day, I think I want a little bit bigger garden. My horses supply me with all the compost I can use with plenty left over for anyone interested in hauling some away. I will pick the first yellow squash tomorrow. There are tomatoes about the size of marbles. This year I planted running beans. It is so neat to watch the runners grow.
And speaking of runners, I'm gonna run right outta here for now. See you soon!

Something I'm doing

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Today, I've been

Busy.
Yeah, that's a good word for today.
I did a little school with my youngest. I did a little sewing. I started making some tarn (t-shirt yarn). It's kinda my first. It isn't difficult at all. Just time consuming and it makes my thumb hurt. Guess I'm gonna need a rotary cutter. A little laundry, cooked supper, let the dog in, let the dog out, let the dog in again, let the dog out again. Yes, we do that - a lot.
Now that it's close to midnight, I think I'll call it a day.

Have you ever?

Wanted something but you just couldn't figure it out. "It" today is...Well, shoot. We haven't figured "it" out. Hahahahahahaha
I sometimes wonder where I go with my thoughts. It kinda seems like I run in place with them. But for some reason, I feel like I have ran around the circumference of the planet earth. That would make me think that running in place gets me nowhere fast.
Ok, these are my rambling thoughts for the day. Hey, are you asking me where are they? You just read them silly!
Now I gotta get outta here and get a few things done.
See ya!

Who woulda guessed?

I have been thinking about blogging again. I came here today and started playing around with the design and thought...I think I will start blogging again. I enjoyed it then and I will enjoy it again. Of course "it" is blogging in this case. Just wanted to make sure you understand. Remember, I live in a house with a bunch of teenagers.

And, besides that...I have a couple of friends that blog and I really want to stay in tune with their blogs.

Came to my Senses

Did I get burned out? I'm not really sure. I really just wanted to put the kids in public school, saddle my horse and ride off into the sunset. I'm not kidding!

Then I came to my senses and cried. I cried because I didn't no way, no how, not happening - I refuse to ever send them to public school.

Maybe the kids came to their senses and I cried because they did. HaHaHa
I like that better!

Time Flies

I'm sure that you all know all about how Time Flies! It really can just run away with you. Pick you up and whisk you off. I think that's what happened to me. Regardless of where, what or even when...
I'm back again.
I will have lots of post to do to get caught up. Shoot, I might not get caught up. LOL But I sure will post again.

I'm heading outta here right now to start another blog. I'm gonna do a blog about our home school group! Yeah!!!

Field Trips and more

I just noticed the last date that I posted. My gosh! Where has the time gone. I know that being busy can make the time fly by but I really feel like it has been a light year. We have been on a couple of field trips with our homeschool group and WOW...we really enjoyed them.

Instead of me being one with the camera, I decided to just be a kid and enjoy everything.

Alliance Dairy was great and now the kids know that there is not a cow standing in the fridge ready to hand out glasses of milk.

Ocali Days was really cool. I'm not that old but I can remember living in a time when we didn't have so much. Children really have no idea how fortunate they are these days. I think back though and I'm not so sure they are fortunate. Along with gadgets and "the future", come times that I'm not sure I want to be a part of. I really liked it when things were much simpler.

Blah and busy

I'm not sure how one can be blah and busy. But that is how I have been the past couple of days. I am so very, very sleepy during the day but at night it's a different story. It's like it gets dark and I'm ready to paint and sew and clean and cook and so much more. I take my vitamin in the am but I think it isn't in my blood stream until the sun goes down. Weird, I know.

A lovely lady, Ms. Angie, from church has given me lots and lots of material. She had a stroke and just isn't able to sew like she used to. The material is just beautiful and I have lots and lots of ideas about what I want to make. Yesterday, I worked on a project that Ms. Angie put in the bag of material. She had mentioned a vest that she had started but couldn't finish. I suggested that I take a look at it and see if I could finish it. Today I did just that. I finished the vest for her. I can hardly wait to see her and give her the vest. So I did get a little sewing done.

Speaking of a little sewing. When I went to the Parelli Ranch, I showed my butt. Literally! I am so thankful that my jeans didn't split until we were on the way home. I'm talking they split on the side of the back pocket so it all hung out! LOL I washed the jeans and was thinking of what to do with them. Patch them, throw them away or make something out of them. I came to the conclusion that I wanted to make an apron. I set my hands in motion and wa la...Yesterday I finished it. I used the bottom of one of the boys shirts that they are ruined to make the ruffle and the ties.

Pictures are coming so don't rush me. So what if it takes me a couple of months to post them here. You gotta have a good reason to come back.

And He Ask Me...

If I was a witch...

I'm not kiddin. The other night, my friend Linda and I were doing our coupon shopping at Publix and me and my big mouth my friendly self started a conversation with a total stranger. Yeah, I know...Don't talk to strangers!

Anyway...we were talking about being domestic and our rights and so on. This stranger said something about some employer in Texas asking his employees to give themselves a name that is easier to understand and learn English and blah, blah, blah...and wanting to know if I had saw it on CNN. I gave him my reply and then elaborated to let him know that I haven't watched tv since 1994. He cocked his head and said..."What are you, a witch? I thought I was gonna fall out! I'm not kiddin bout this. Of course me in my quick witted self came back to tell him, "No, I'm not a witch. I'm worshiping God and enjoying my family."

I guess I am really the weirdest weed in the garden.

Missed Church

Yeppers, last Sunday. I missed church! I actually had a wonderful time too. I was outside in the awesome sunshine enjoying beautiful oak trees that 5 of us couldn't all put our arms around. I was outside enjoying the beauty of what God has created and given us all to enjoy. I was outside with horses. Yes, horses! I actually spoke with Pat Parelli and was blessed to enjoy his teachings and some of students, both human and equine. I was blessed with an all day, relaxed atmosphere, tour of the Parelli Ranch.

See you all in church tomorrow.

The Bible

Today an odd question was ask by a dear friend. That question went kinda like this...
"How do you get away with teaching the bible?"
This question came about because today me and the boys were discussing our bible lesson and getting caught up. Kinda refreshing our minds from last week. Once we were all caught up and refreshed, I released the boys and sent them to lunch.
When the question was ask, I almost ask what exactly did my friend mean. Really now, what do you mean how do I get away with it. I get away with it because I live in the United States of America. I get away with it because this is a free country. I get away with it because God teaches us all of our core subjects. Language Arts, Math, History and Science.
Our conversation went on for a few minutes to discuss passing the GED and such. But I am still a little umm...how do I say it, confused.

And now I just have to ask you.

How do you get away with teaching the bible or from the bible?

I am...

Have you ever been so busy that you think you just passed yourself? I think I just did that but I'm not sure if I was coming or going.

I am...
reading, typing, teaching, learning, adding, subtracting, sewing, riding, driving, playing, signing, cooking, chatting, listening, grooming, laughing and so much more...

That is exactly why I am...
praying!

Burning the midnight oil

Once again I find myself sitting here in the wee hours. Ok, so they really aren't wee hours right now but it won't be long. I used to stay up til 2 and 3 am. In the past ummm...month, I have been really trying very hard to get into bed a little earlier. I just get more work done when everyone else is in bed. Yeah, the house is really quiet.

A couple of days ago, I ordered my much needed, very expensive printer cartridge. It arrived today! Needless to say, I am trying to run it empty. LOL

I gonna say goodnight to you now because if I stay up much longer, I really will be burning the midnight oil.
Night, night!

Couponing 101 - a tutorial - part 2

Ok, I told ya I was gonna get to it. Now I'm gettin to it. I sure hope that you have been learning the lingo.
Now on with Couponing 101 - a tutorial - part 2...

Since you are now savvy and can talk the talk, let's see if you can walk the walk.

I visit a couple of websites that I get info from. I visit them from time to time almost every day to get helpful hints. I'll be sharing the links to them here with you.

On Sunday our local newspaper has what is called "inserts" in them. These "inserts" can be anything from sale papers to advertisement to COUPONS. Yeah - you read it right - COUPONS.

You need to buy at least 4 newspapers on Sunday that have COUPONS in them. It's gonna cost you less than $10 but you will save so much more than that.

This is going to allow you to stock pile your coupons. I love to use coupons at Publix because you can stack the coupons. Here is an example...now you gotta remember this...

Every week Publix has BOGO
Use 2 coupons on both items

If you have a competitor coupon for the same item then you can also use 2 competitor coupons. That would give you 2 coupons per item.

Before you run off, let me see if I can break it down a little better.

Publix BOGO
Smithfield Bacon, 16oz @ $3.99
let's say that you have this...
-$2 off Smithfield Bacon printable

You would print 2 of those coupons (or more if you could), because you can use 2 coupons on them. You use a coupon for the one you buy and a coupon for the one you get free. You 2 coupons together is for $4 and the bacon cost $3.99 for 2 packs. Now you just got 2 packs of bacon free with 1 cent overage. Did you see FREE for 2 packs of bacon?!


It really is so much better explained over at this website...